6 Tips On Eco-Friendly Home Cleaning. Are you aware of the harmful effects cleaning chemicals can have on your family? With children and pets in the house, it’s important to be extra careful about the cleaners you use to clean up everyday messes. While you don’t want to live in filth and clutter, you also don’t want to harm your loved ones in the process of cleaning up your home. Read on!
Tips On Eco-Friendly Home Cleaning
1. Don’t Use Cleaners with Ammonia or Chlorine Bleach
Several cleaners contain the main ingredient ammonium chloride or chlorine bleach, both of which contain hazardous chemicals. A study published in Environmental Science & Technology found that, compared with chlorine bleach and ammonia, hydrogen peroxide removes more dirt from a surface and releases fewer toxic gases.
Both chlorine bleach and ammonia can be harmful to your family’s health and are highly toxic. The fumes of chlorine bleach can irritate your eyes and skin, while inhaling ammonia can be harmful in high amounts.
Always avoid cleaners with these ingredients, both when you buy them and when you clean your home. The best and safest way to clean your home is to use a combination of eco-friendly cleaning products and natural household cleaners.
2. Make Sure the Product is Non-toxic
Check the label of your cleaning products to make sure they are non-toxic. A general rule is that if the product lists a specific chemical on its ingredients list, it should be avoided.
The chemicals coating many household cleaners are harmful to your health and the environment. These include ammonia and chlorine bleach, as mentioned earlier, but others, such as ethylene glycol, methanol, and isopropyl alcohol, are also harmful.
When you purchase a product, always look for the label that says ‘non-toxic’. It is recommended to ensure the product is more than 20% biodegradable. It is recommended to avoid cleaners with a bitter or soapy taste, as they often contain additives harmful to your health.
3. Grab Biodegradable Cleaning Tools
Biodegradable cleaning tools are another great way to avoid harmful chemicals. Many sponges, brooms, and brushes sold in stores these days carry a green label, indicating they have been tested for biodegradability.
Buying products that don’t contain harmful chemicals is the best way to protect your family from exposure to dangerous toxins. But barring that, you should also ensure the products you buy can be recycled into harmless material when thrown away. The Environmental Protection Agency recommends using biodegradable cloths, paper towels, sponges, and brooms.
4. Ensure That it Works Even in Cold Water
Water temperature is important when you’re thinking about how to reduce toxins in the home. While ammonia can be harmful at high temperatures, cleaning agents that are safe to use in cold water are also really important. It is often recommended that cleaners used in cold water should not release toxins into the air, as toxic fumes may harm anyone who breathes them in.
The Environmental Protection Agency recommends avoiding cleaners that aren’t safe for cold water use, as this can release toxins into the air. Several environmentally friendly cleaners release no harmful fumes when used with cold water, which is safe for everyone in your home.
These include eco-friendly dishwashing soaps and some cleaners made from coconuts and other natural ingredients. These environmentally friendly cleaning products can reduce your indoor air pollution while keeping your house clean. The EPA recommends avoiding products that aren’t safe to use in cold water.
5. Look for Aerosol-free Cleaners
Many cleaners come in aerosol form; it is recommended that you avoid them. Aerosol-free cleansers are often more effective but also more expensive than other products, so you should only purchase them if you are willing to spend a little more on environmental protection.
It is also recommended to avoid cleaners that impede your home ventilation system, as they can introduce harmful toxins into your home. These products should also be avoided because of the amount of waste they generate.
Many cleaning products contain toxic compounds when used in large amounts, which is why it’s important to purchase non-aerosol cleaners. The chemicals used in aerosol cleaners can be harmful in high amounts, so it’s best to avoid these products whenever possible.
6. Be Mindful of the Packaging
Avoid cleaners that have packaging that cannot be recycled. They also recommend avoiding cleaners with coatings or liners containing toxic chemicals. Many plastic products have been linked to harm animals and may be harmful to people as well.
While there aren’t a lot of environmentally-friendly cleaners that don’t have harmful additives in their packaging, you can choose ones without these harmful chemicals by looking at the ingredients list. When you purchase a product, always look for the word biodegradable on the label, as this indicates the product is safe to use.
Conclusion
6 Tips On Eco-Friendly Home Cleaning. It is recommended to purchase environmentally friendly products that reduce air pollution in your home. You should also select non-toxic cleaning products so you don’t have to worry about exposure to harmful toxins. You can make these choices with the help of the tips mentioned above.
